Hong Kong unlimited mobile data plan options?
My 3HK contract is finally coming to an end shortly and I'm going to shift network.
I am after a SIM only all you can eat data plan (or one which offers a generous cap).
At present the options I am considering are SmarTone, One2Free and 1010, and maybe China Mobile ("CMHK"). I know One2Free and 1010 are on the same network (CSL), but I've been told 1010 does have network priority over One2Free (kind of makes sense as 1010 is more expensive). The one network that is missing is PCCW Mobile, this is a network I am not willing to consider due to its reputation for very poor customer services ("CS").
3HK for all you can eat data is probably the cheapest (I am paying HK$210 a month, but the network is very weak where I need it (which is around IFC, Jardine House and on the MTR) for both data and voice calls. At and around my home (Sheung Wan), the network is fine, but is redundant, as I have wifi in my home. The CS has actually been fine, and they have quite a few innovative products, its just that the network has been very poor.
I had previously been with SmarTone and it was generally OK, but it did have quite a few blackspots around where I used to live (Tung Chung) and on the Tung Chung line. It seemed to be fine in and around central though and CS was never an issue.
The plan prices are as follows per month (and inclusive of any tunnel fees):
- SmarTone: HK$250 18 month commitment
- One2Free: HK$279 12 month commitment or HK$249 24 month commitment
- 1010: HK$351 12 month commitment or HK$321 24 month commitment
- China Mobile: HK$230 12 month commitment
With SmarTone and the CSL providers the early contract end penalty is HK$500. I cannot find information for CMHK in relation to early contract end penalties.
Smartone and CSL uses HSDPA+, while CMHK claims to use HSPA. I wasn't aware that CMHK had its own 3G network, so it may be piggybacking off another network.
At present I'm leaning towards the One2Free 24 month plan. CSL is regarded to have the best network in Hong Kong, but 1010's prices are a bit too high for me.
CMHK does sound tempting, but it seems like quite a bit of a gamble as their network infrastructure is a bit of an unknown. I have been with CMHK in the past and it was fine both network and CS wise, although this was on 2G.
Any thoughts / comments / suggestions?
